Newly-installed Magnolia coach LA Tenorio doesn’t see himself turning the Hotshots to a championship team overnight.
There would be bumps on the road and they would encounter a series of pitstops to improve and recharge until they find the right time to reach the summit.
“We cannot reach Mt. Everest in one go,” Tenorio said. “Management will always have expectations. Expectations and pressures are always there, but we cannot be eaten up by the pressure right away.”
“We have to work hard for it one day at a time. Kung makikita agad natin yung pressure, kakainin tayo kaagad niyan. Hindi tayo makaka-progress. Instead, we will regress.”
While the team is still on its learning curve, embracing a new philosophy designed by a coach, who’s been about a month old from being appointed as the new mentor and successor of Chito Victolero, Mark Barroca, the longest-tenured player in the squad, sees the team headed towards the right direction.
“Iba yung sistema ni Coach LA. Kaya excited nga ako eh. Itong Princeton Offense. Maganda at madaming ball movement. Makikita mo, equal opportunity talaga. Hindi nado-dominate ng isnag player yung bola. Kaya nga habng itinuturo rin nina Coach Kirk (Collier) and Coach Junno (Sauler), ang ganda nung how they guide the system,” said Barroca.
“Ako, na beterano, nagkakamali, pero natututo ako. Bagong sistema. Sanay ako doon sa kukunin mo yung bola, pick and roll ka lang. Dito, bihira yun. Dito, galaw ka ng galaw. Moving without the ball. Kahit wala kang bola gumagalaw ka.”
The team may be on a rebuilding stage, hence struggling in the early goings are normal, but it would only be a matter of time for Tenorio and the rest of the Hotshots to find their place where the big boys in the league truly belong and Barroca is confident they will take it to the next level after a seven-year title drought.
“With Coach LA, tingin ko malayu-layo mararating nung team. One game at a time, one practice at a time. Wala kaming ini-expect na mag-boom kaagad kami. Normal yung mag-struggle. Kasi nga, rebuilding team ito. Pero malaki ang kumpiyansa ko na malayo mararating nito,” added Barroca.
With new players like Javi Gomez de Liano, rookie Yukien Andrada and journeyman Paolo Taha shoring up the roster this season and the contract extension given to Zav Lucero, Barroca sees Magnolia’s future secured for the next few years.
“Parang Klay Thompson eh,” said Barroca in describing De Liano’s game. “He is a big guard and can even switch to No.3 and No.4. “Shooter talaga. Si Paolo naman, stopper and yung biult ng katawan niya pang-pisikal rin. I’ve been seeing him before, kung ano pinagagawa ng coachews, tina-trabaho niya. Malaking bagay sila sa team.”
